COMCAST WELCOME AS AN INVESTOR IN PHILADELPHIA RSNS

Michael Bair, Exec VP of Rainbow Sports -- owner of both
SportsChannel Philadelphia and PRISM -- told CABLE WORLD that he
has already had "very brief" discussions with Comcast regarding
the impact on his RSNs of Comcast's purchase of the Flyers and
Sixers. Bair is "open to Comcast investing" in his networks as a
partner, and notes there "are certain synergies" with and that
could "end up deepening the relationship." Bair has been seeking
"strategic alliances" with cable operators or sports team owners
for SportsChannel's "weaker" regional services. Paul Kagan
analyst John Mansell predicts Comcast's addition of the Flyers
and Sixers, plus a possible Phillies alliance, will give them
"tremendous leverage" in any sports rights fee negotiations with
Rainbow (CABLE WORLD, 3/25 issue).